Belgium braces for another heatwave from today

Another heatwave is due to arrive in Belgium from today, with temperatures climbing past 30°C.

Maximum temperatures will rise to 32°C on Friday and 33°C on Saturday, according to forecasts from the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI).

Sunday’s temperatures will also exceed 30°C in most regions, except along the coast where the weather will be about five degrees cooler.

Brussels ministers for health and welfare, Ahmed Laaouej (PS) and Dirk De Smedt (Anders), are calling for vigilance amid the yellow heat warning, especially when it comes to those vulnerable to severe heat. 

“Heatwaves now pose a real challenge to public health,” the two ministers said in a statement.

“Our responsibility is to anticipate, coordinate and protect. Within our remit, we’ve taken the necessary measures to step up vigilance for the coming days.

"We’re calling on all our partners to continue this mobilisation, so as to ensure a coordinated, coherent and clear response for the public, with particular attention to the most vulnerable people."

Letters have been sent to local authorities, public social welfare centres (CPASs), care institutions and relevant operators urging them to keep their facilities fully operational throughout the heatwave.

Senior civil servant Sophie Lavaux is responsible (via Safe.Brussels) for the operational coordination of regional management and state secretary Ans Persoons (Vooruit), with the support of Brussels Environment, is responsible for the provisions falling within the remit of environmental affairs.

The Interministerial Conference on Public Health met on Wednesday with federal, community and regional authorities to discuss the situation, closely coordinate preventive measures and, where necessary, adjust measures to protect the population.